Meaning
to wake up; to get out of bed; to occur; to happen
Nuance & Usage
起きる has two distinct meanings depending on context. In daily life it most commonly means "to wake up and get out of bed." It can also mean "for something to occur," as in 事故が起きる (an accident occurs). Note the difference from 目が覚める (me ga sameru), which describes only the moment of waking — 起きる implies actually getting up.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 起きる (intransitive — you wake yourself up) with 起こす (okosu — transitive, to wake someone else up). Example: 私は7時に起きた = I woke up at 7. 母が私を起こした = My mom woke me up. Always check: who is doing the waking?
Example Sentences
毎朝七時に起きます。
まいあさしちじにおきます。
I wake up at seven every morning.
今日は遅く起きてしまいました。
きょうはおそくおきてしまいました。
I ended up waking up late today.
何時に起きますか？
なんじにおきますか？
What time do you wake up?
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 起きる with 4 different question types.
Want to practice this word?
Add to Fujiyama & Study with AI
Generate more example sentences, listen to native pronunciation, and review with SRS — all personalized to your JLPT level.